Old crocks, marmalade and lavender..............

.....now doesn't that headline make you think "English"?

I doubt there are many of you who don't love lavender.  Freshly blooming while growing it's beautiful, especially massed in rolling fields such as in Provence, also now in some areas of the US, Britain, and other countries.  Why it decides not to do well in my garden has always confounded me! But I keep on trying, planting some most years in hopes I'll eventually be drying enough for a few homemade sachets.

Meanwhile, I buy my dried lavender, so of course had to try a little bag full of freshly dried blooms from this lovely shop in New Hampshire.  Loved how it was displayed in a vintage glass jar with a china cup to scoop.

I was thrilled to find this very old and well-crazed marmalade crock at this same shop.  Like all proper Brits, I grew up getting my oranges spread on something crisp and buttery!  I have always preferred a good chunky marmalade on my morning toast over any other jam or jelly.

My collection of English crockery containers is still small, but I'm always on the lookout for more.

bowerbird and friends ~ a cute shop across from my favorite Red Chair Antiques in Peterborough, NH